Top 5 sport psychology lessons from 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'

Milkha Singh

Two good reasons for me to watch “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” were:

1. Farhan Akhtar

2. It is a biopic of an Indian athlete/runner who I wasn’t fortunate enough to see live in action – Milkha Singh.

I have always known him as the ‘Flying Sikh’ and read about him in GK books as the greatest Indian runner ever.

But I never got a chance to understand him as an athlete more in an in-depth way. Thanks to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, we are blessed to know Milkha Singh’s life as an Indian athlete.

I am getting in bits of spoilers in here, but I have clubbed my idea of the techniques shown in the movie which help Milkha Singh achieve what he has.

Here are my top 5 sport psychology learnings from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag:

1. Goal Setting: 45.8. People who know Milkha Singh, know the digits and its significance. After failing to qualifying for the Melbourne Olympics, he goes to his coach and asks him to write down the world record for the 400m.

His coach writes it down on a tissue paper – 45.8 (which was, in fact, inaccurate) and this paper remains with Milkha till he knows he can achieve that digit. He also writes the digits next to his God, so whenever he prays, his goal is in front of his eyes.

This is a reassurance to all those athletes who are made to write their goals and stick it in their rooms. Always keep the goals visible and most importantly – measureable and specific.

2. Visualisation: I don’t know how many who saw the film noticed that everytime before the race Milkha Singh would visualise his race path which would allow him to estimate his race time.

He did it before the race when he took his position on the running block. As we sport psychologists emphasize the importance of mental rehearsal or visualising how you would perform before the event, he did the same! It also helps athletes re-focus.

3. Motivation: In certain instances from the beginning of the movie, Milkha Singh’s motivation is depicted. In the beginning, his motivation is clearly extrinsic – milk, to have two glasses of milk in the Army.

But later on, the motivation turns internal and feelings of patriotism and mastery lead him to become the ‘Flying Sikh’. Internalising goals and intrinsic motivation always lasts longer.

4. Dedication and Discipline: After failing to qualify for the Melbourne Olympics, he internalises his goals and works on it. The amount of dedication could be seen in even when he does not stop training in the rains!

He loses his discipline when he is Australia and drinks beer (off routine for him) and gets late for training. But after that day, the level of discipline which he maintains helps him change his physique and get the required potential to get closer to that World Record.

5. Focus, will and hard work: Yes, that final sentence by the great Milkha Singh himself is ultimate. It does pay off, as without hard work on the field, mental training is useless!

Thank you @FarOutAkhtar and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra to give us a great movie! It’s worth watching for any athlete, coach, parent, anyone!

Hope it inspires many kids to take up track and field in India.

And finally to the person himself – Thank you Sir Milkha Singh ji!